The Hunt for Faster Antidepressants

4/22/2013 1:21PM

Researchers and drug makers are testing medications that may be able to effectively treat depression within days, or even a couple of hours. WSJ's Andrea Petersen reports on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... I ... powerful new anti depressants Intesa baking looming teens evening hours in some cases ... the side effects was that here with me now is Wall Street and Andrea Petersen ... thanks for being here you know I think for anyone who's got the impression that the not knowing they can take weeks ... aam ... to to finance the cake and having some a beacon to within days what a significant improvement write me a huge ... problem with the current treatments is that they can take months or longer ... for there'd be any ... relief ... if they work at all ... I am to new treatments are they're being very very different the way they want explain on a banner layman's terms what the differences ... but um yes venue treatments tend to work time and be an empty the receptor ... in the brain and the Cyprus after that is related to learning and memory ... and acts on the neurotransmitter glutamate and scientists believe the glutamate is actually a much more direct target for depression ... and then start on and ... on the desert right which is obviously affected by accessorizing Prozac Paxil ... and people think that that ... scientists are seeking a back injury brackets ... method of action for the sunrises is the reason why there's such a long time ... into other compounds being studied out one of them has been uses an anesthetic in even been ... you sometimes to manufacture the street drugs special K as I was very brittle ... tells a semi could outsell at the end that the new treatments one and a couple of them are actually existing medications anime action had Amenas was one of the nice thing is that ... as an anesthetic for decades ... it is sometimes abuses Street Rod special K ... aam arson significant side effects in a non con Appaloosa nations ... feeling really Stacy year aam what people called the sensitive side FX on that obviously there's some concern and is also concerned that ... you stand ... over it meets many times I can actually lead to toxicity in the brain ... so ... but what what drug companies are doing now several of them are ... doing our formerly the drugs that act a lot like enemy inactive an MDA for softer but to a slightly differently ... and that's what early studies show it is that they have the same beneficial fast acting benefits but they don't have those sunsets the scary side effects with just when people hear this the side effects that does sound a little like ... ok I really think about this before using the new fine right now I can say that the doctors that you spoken to are using this mostly in extreme case is for people who does everything else in the not work for them the way to blazing cat any now he is ... often an emergency right there some really interesting working timing of people are coming and actively suicidal ... and this drug well actually it ... the upgrade move that urgency to harm herself and which is the nation's scenes in November it done to get your you get to trade off but it but definitely and so what what they're in the deal is a novel use it and then not try to ... tinker with the person's medication get the money medication ... and one of ... the sector said there simply buying time yes and so if they knew that the new drugs that don't have these knew the scary side effects ... are also ... initially being ... pursued for people who have failed one or two or more ... trials of a traditional and oppressed by companies are also looking at ... you saying they're looking at other from elation oral formulation is I'm a big drop but obviously is a lot of these IV infusions which isn't